Mandatory flu shots????

[45whenimdone]

It didn't dawn on me until just right now, don't ask me why, that my choice of NOT getting a flu shot will NOT get me into a nursing program. The director at my school of choice basically stated "it is a requirement that you receive one, however you can sign a declaration that you do not wish to receive one." Then I asked, "would that inhibit my chances of getting into the program?" She replied, "well, the facilities in which we work with it is required due to you working with elderly clients; If you do not wish to get the flu shot perhaps you should look into another career."

*****?? (excuse the language) I have worked in nursing homes, health centers, private duty, home health agencies, visiting nurses association, hospice AND THEY NEVER REQUIRED me to ever receive or even ASKED if I have obtained a flu shot!!! (mid 90's)

So, anyone please tell me my dream of becoming a nurse is already dead because I REFUSE to get a flu shot???!!! seriously??? I am so upset right now!!!

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Sometimes I wonder if the flu will become unpreventable by vaccine one day. The strains are constantly changing and we keep making vaccines for it but can there come a point that the vaccine will kill us because the flu will will require a super vaccine that is toxic to our bodies?

This shows a gross misunderstanding of how influenza vaccines work.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

One day we might be choosing between dying from the flu or dying from the ingredients in the flu-shot. Stay woke. Either way you are dying but the shot holds a 100 percent guarantee.

I can only laugh at this. Really, you should try science. It's fun, and beats the hell out of hyperbolic Chicken Little antics.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

Given a choice between having the flu or not having it, I will choose taking a pass every time. The times that I have had it (prior to vaccines being readily available to me), I would be down for 5-7 days every time, feeling miserable.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Given a choice between having the flu or not having it, I will choose taking a pass every time. The times that I have had it (prior to vaccines being readily available to me), I would be down for 5-7 days every time, feeling miserable.

Pretty soon you won't have a nursing job if you continue to refuse the flu vaccine. It's becoming a requirement at most healthcare facilities.

[Farawyn]

Given a choice between having the flu or not having it, I will choose taking a pass every time. The times that I have had it (prior to vaccines being readily available to me), I would be down for 5-7 days every time, feeling miserable.

Pretty soon you won't have a nursing job if you continue to refuse the flu vaccine. It's becoming a requirement at most healthcare facilities.

I think Orca is saying taking a pass on the flu, and getting the vaccine.

???

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

I think Orca is saying taking a pass on the flu, and getting the vaccine.

???

I gotta it now. I just had surgery yesterday and I'm still a little sleepy.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

I gotta it now. I just had surgery yesterday and I'm still a little sleepy.

Blame Anesthesia!

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I haven't read all the responses but your dream of being a nurse will be difficult, if not impossible if you refuse the flu shot. Do you have a documented medical condition that makes the shot dangerous? Or is it a google allergy? You want to be a nurse.. get the shot.. it only hurts for a couple of seconds.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I took all the pre-nursing classes, quit my job, bought all my books, started nursing school, signed a declination form for the flu shot months before classes started and THEN they changed the rules on me and forced the flu shot.

Short version: I quit school and filed for tuition reimbursement and got it.

It has been very emotionally devastating and exhausting to go through this. I could have sued. They admitted that they changed the rules mid-stream. I decided I want this part of my life to be over instead.

I also have to put up with the stigma with some that I "quit over a stupid flu shot" making them wonder my REAL reason for quitting or somesuch because all people do not believe my reasons.

This whole thing has been hard. Hope you can make your decision before you invested everything I did. They hurt me. And they don't care.

I'd like to argue that you hurt yourself here. The 'rules' are always changing. You adapt or you walk. You made a choice to walk. Any perceived stigma is your own doing. If it meant enough to you to become a nurse... you would have done what was necessary. You made a choice, own it.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

This is your truth.

I believe something different.

aww yes, we live in the new area of alternative truths.. or facts, as it were...

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

How can a pt's illness be traced to a particular nurse?

Are you saying this is impossible or even unlikely? Tracking illnesses is actually not that hard to do, especially in a controlled setting (like hospital).

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

The flu killed a seven year old boy that I knew last year. You bet your ass his mom goes out of her way to vaccinate her only surviving child. All of you anti flu vaccine folks.. show me one person you know who has died from the vaccine? (I'll wait!)... I guantree it isn't even close to the infants, children, infirm adults and elderly that die from the actual disease. But hey- keep living in your conspiracy bubble of fear that a simple shot is the work of evil..